Technological adoption and constraint analysis of mushroom entrepreneurship in Karnataka

Mushroom cultivation is a remunerative agribusiness. However, consumption of mushrooms to ameliorate nutrition deficiency is often underemphasized in India. Mushroom entrepreneurship being technologically intensive agribusiness, its success in a country like India is contingent upon the technological and institutional support available to it. Present study was carried out to assess component wise technology adoption and constraint analysis of enterprises in order to suggest precise policy interventions for bringing the mushroom industry to health and vibrancy. The research was conducted among the mushroom entrepreneurs in Karnataka State. The constraint analysis reveals that, non-availability of spawn, lack of technical information and exploitation by consultants are major constraints. The increasing labour wages calls for adoption of mechanization in various activities of mushroom cultivation. The higher cost on electricity has rendered the cultivation of button mushroom less profitable in the State. For mushroom cultivation to pick up the pace, there is need for capacity building of KVK staff about improved low cost cultivation technology for disseminating the same among the farmers and supply of quality spawn by State departments.